Welcome to Issue 102 of Clearly YOU. Every second Wednesday, I serve up ideas that help you share the clearest, realest, most unforgettable version of yourself with the world. Not a subscriber? Let's fix that: https://kimscaravelli.com/newsletter/
Truth: I've been doing yoga for a long time, but I've always sucked at balance.
I can twist myself into a pretzel and hold an uncomfortable pose for as long as it takes to keep up with the uber-fit 20-something on the mat beside me.
But ask me to stand on one leg and pretend to be a tree, and I'm swaying like a palm frond in a hurricane.
Until recently... when a speck of white paint on the floor of the yoga studio caught my eye and suddenly… I became as solid as the mightiest oak.
I could have stood on my left leg forever. Seriously. And when I switched to my right, I swayed for no more than a second.
Here’s what surprised me: It had nothing to do with strength or control.
It was where I was looking.
I used to focus too far ahead, and it kept me wobbly. That tiny speck of white paint brought my gaze closer to where I was actually standing. And that small shift changed everything.
They call it drishti, a fixed point for your gaze.
Mine needed to be closer.
That was it.
🤪Wild, eh?
Three takeaways from this, and all of them help with clarity:
- It's never too late to improve.
- The smallest shift can produce remarkable results.
- Looking too far ahead can throw you off balance. Move your drishti closer.
Cool Quote
“Balance is not something you find, it’s something you create.”
Jana Kingsford
Let's Move Your Professional Drishti Closer
I talk to folks who are doing well, at least by my measurements. They’re smart, capable, and experiencing real success.
But honestly? Sometimes their vibe is still closer to frantic than Zen. More palm frond than mighty oak.
I think part of the problem is this: we all seem to be trying to map out a professional plan that protects us from every twist and turn and guarantees health and wealth forever, no matter what.
We’re staring so far into the future that we can’t help but wobble.
So let’s bring that drishti closer.
Instead of “Where do I need to be at 40, 55, 65, 90…?” try “Where would I like to be a year from now?”
That’s a point you can actually focus on.
For example, telling yourself you need to double, triple, or quadruple your income by a certain age is a great way to trigger panic. Trust me, I’ve been there. It will keep you wobbly.
But an extra $10K this year? That might feel do-able.
Maybe you get there with a small increase in your fees. An add-on to your services. Or by cutting a few expenses and paying yourself a bit more.
Small shifts. Measurable progress.
This is how you steady yourself. Not by trying to control every outcome, but by bringing your gaze a little closer.
And when you do that, things start to come into focus. Not all at once. But enough for you to see yourself more clearly, and know what to do next.
Stuff Worth Sharing
I’d love to be one of those people who sits on a mountain top and meditates for hours at a time. Heck, I’d settle for half an hour on a mat.
But I can’t hold the focus.
So, buoyed by my success with tree pose, I decided to move my meditation drishti closer. WAY closer.
I downsized my goal at just 5 minutes, and created an Apple playlist with a handful of super short guided meditations.
I was shocked at how well this worked. I can stay focused for 5 minutes! Easy peasy.
Now I'm meditating every morning. And sometimes even at night. Still only a few minutes at a time, but I'm definitely calling it a win.🏆
👉 If you want to try mini-meditations, here's one to try out: https://www.mindful.org/a-5-minute-meditation-to-focus-with-ease/
It’s not my favourite, but it's do-able. And if you like it you can always create a playlist.
Closer. Clearer. Possible.
For the Word Nerds
If you liked drishti, here are a couple more yoga words worth knowing:
Sthira (STEER-ah)
Steady. Strong. Grounded.
This is the part of you that holds. The mighty oak.
Sukha (SOO-kah)
Ease. Lightness. Comfort.
This is the part that softens. The part that lets you breathe.
In yoga, the goal isn’t just strength or just ease. It’s both. Steady and comfortable.
Which, if you think about it, is exactly what we’re after in our work, too.
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🩷 Thanks for reading. If anything resonated with you, let me know. I love hearing from readers.
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